Loudoun County, Virginia – The Washington Commanders announced today that Dan Quinn will be the team’s head coach. Quinn is the 31st head coach in team history.
“My partners and I entered this offseason intent on hiring elite candidates to shape the next chapter of Commanders football, and I believe we did just that – first with Adam Peters and now by welcoming the highly respected Dan Quinn as our head coach,” Josh Harris, Managing Partner of the Washington Commanders, said. “Dan has justifiably acquired a reputation as one of the NFL’s best defensive minds, creating gritty, explosive, and dynamic teams that compete fiercely. But most significantly, he is an exceptional leader who pulls out the best in his players, coaches, and staff.
We heard it from everyone we spoke with throughout the process, and it was reinforced when Dan and I discussed our common vision for developing a winning business. By appointing such a recognized, competent, and committed leader as head coach, we have taken another significant step toward our goal of providing our supporters with a championship-caliber squad. I am very thrilled about our future and to welcome Dan and his wife Stacey to the Commanders family.”
Quinn brings 21 years of coaching experience to the Commanders, most recently working as the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator, where he was selected Assistant Coach of the Year by the Associated Press in 2021. In 2021, he inherited a defence that placed 28th in terms of points per game. From 2021 to 2023, Quinn’s team ranked fifth in the NFL in points per game (19.9), seventh in net yards allowed per game (327.0), sixth in sacks (141), and first in interceptions (59). During that time, his team also ranked fourth in the NFL in terms of third-down conversion percentage (36.4%). Quinn has also excelled at developing defensive players in Dallas. During his tenure as defensive coordinator, he helped develop LB Micah Parsons, CB Trevon Diggs, and CB DaRon Bland, all of whom were awarded First Team All Pro by the Associated Press once each over the previous three seasons. Dallas also sent three defensive players to the 2024 Pro Bowl at each level of the defence, with DE DeMarcus Lawrence, LB Micah Parsons, and CB DaRon Bland representing the NFC this year in Orlando.
“I’ve long admired Dan Quinn as a great man and a fantastic coach. “The way his teams play, and the way the people I admire the most in this league regard him as a leader and a man, gave me confidence that he was the right person for the job,” stated General Manager Adam Peters. “We had the opportunity to sit down and discuss a philosophy and vision for building a winning football program, and I am excited to work with Dan on building and developing this football team. His ability to connect with not only his players, but all levels of every organization he has worked with, is a rare attribute that struck a deep chord with us. I look forward to working with Dan to create a winning atmosphere in which players, coaches, and staff can thrive and grow together. Dan is determined to return this organization to the top of the NFL, where it belongs, and I’m delighted to welcome him and his family to the DMV.”
Prior to his time in Dallas, Quinn was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 2015 to 2020, where he guided the team to a Super Bowl LI attendance and a postseason berth with a victory in the NFC Divisional Round in 2017. During his stint as Falcons head coach, Atlanta was sixth in the NFL in total takeaways (105). Quinn’s career in Atlanta ended with a 43-42 regular season record and a 3-2 postseason record. He won the second NFC Championship in Atlanta Falcons team history.
“I am thrilled for the opportunity to become the next head coach of such a storied franchise and fanbase,” he stated. “Under the leadership of Josh Harris, the ownership group, and Adam Peters, we are excited to usher in a new era of Washington Commanders football.” The company has a fantastic vision, and I’m grateful to be a part of what comes next.
I’d want to thank Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, Coach Mike McCarthy, and the whole Dallas Cowboys organization for the previous three seasons. In such a short period of time, the players, coaching staff, and everyone else inside the organization became like family. We have a big challenge ahead of us, but the ownership group, Adam, and I are all on the same page about putting in the work to reach our goal of regularly competing for Super Bowls year after year.”
Quinn got his first head coaching job after commanding one of the best defences in NFL history in Seattle. Quinn managed Seattle’s defence in 2013-14, which helped the team reach consecutive Super Bowl berths. Over those two seasons, the Seahawks led the NFL in fewest yards allowed (270.4), points allowed (15.2), and passing yards allowed (178.8), while limiting opposing offences to only 91.6 rushing yards per game. During his time in Seattle, Quinn worked with CB Richard Sherman, who led the NFL with 12 interceptions in 2013-14. The Seattle defence also led the NFL in overall interceptions during that time period, with 28. Quinn managed the defence for two seasons, and the club topped the league with 63 total takeaways. Quinn saw four of his defensive players earn seven Pro Bowl choices during those two seasons: CB Richard Sherman (two), S Kam Chancellor (two), CB Earl Thomas (two), and LB Bobby Wagner (one).
Quinn was a four-year letterwinner and two-time co-captain of the defensive line at Salisbury State (Division III in Salisbury, Maryland). Quinn also lettered in track and field, holding the school record in the hammer throw. In 2005, he was named to the Salisbury State Athletic Hall of Fame.
Quinn, originally from Morristown, New Jersey, and his wife, Stacey, founded Quinn’s Corps in 2004, which assists members of the military both at home and abroad.
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